Study Finds Race, Age Play a Factor in Arrest Rate

Posted By
Scott H. Palmer, P.C.

Many people in Texas are arrested for criminal offenses every year. Anyone can face
criminal charges, but a new study shows that race plays a factor in the likelihood of young
male adults getting arrested in the United States.

The study found that gender and race play a significant role in the chances
of being arrested by the age of 23, according to researchers at the University
of South Carolina who used data from the U.S. Department of Labor to compare
arrest rates of men and women between the ages of 18 and 23.

The study found that young men are 50 percent more likely to be arrested
between the ages of 18 and 23 compared to young females. The study also
found that the race of males played a role in the likelihood of getting
arrested by the age of 23.

The study reported that 30 percent of African-American males had an arrest
by the age of 18. The percentage of African-American men arrested by the
age of 23 increased to 49 percent. By the age of 18, 26 percent of Hispanic
males had an arrest. This jumped to 44 percent by the time they reached
the age of 23.

How do these figures compared to non-Hispanic white males in the U.S.?
The study reported that 22 percent of white males had an arrest by the
age of 18. This number jumped to 38 percent by the age 23.

The researchers said their findings show that males between the ages of
18 to 23 are more likely to get arrested as their arrest rate increased
by almost 60 percent during this age period. Interestingly, the study
did not find a difference between female racial groups and their chances
of being arrested between the ages of 18 and 23.

The finding that race and age play a role in arrests among males is a troubling
sign. The study did not look into the types of charges men were most likely
to face but the finding that African-American males have a higher rate
of arrest could mean that racial profiling is still being used by law
enforcement. Young males facing criminal charges should be aware of the
bias they may face by police and during interrogations and be aware of
the ways they can protect their civil rights.

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*Scott Palmer is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of
Legal Specialization (2005 to present), David P. Housel, Jr. is Board
Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2004
to present).